EPISODES 



211 



no doubt, would have swooned, or at least screamed and 

 gone into hysterics, had they seen one of our baskets 

 filled with these animals, all alive and plump. Fortu- 

 nately we had no tragedy queen or sentimental spinster at 

 Henderson. Our Kentucky ladies mind their own affairs, 

 and seldom meddle with those of others farther than to do 

 all they can for their comfort. The toads, collected one 

 by one, and brought home in baskets, were deposited in a 

 barrel for use. And now that night is over, and as it 

 is the first trial we are going to give our trot-line, just 

 watch our movements from that high bank beside the 

 stream. There sit down under the large cotton-wood tree. 

 You are in no danger of catching cold at this season. 



My assistant follows me with a gaff hook, while I carry 

 the paddle of our canoe ; a boy bears on his back a hun- 

 dred toads as good as ever hopped. Our line — oh, I 

 forgot to inform you that we had set it last night, but 

 without the small ones you now see on my arm. Fasten- 

 ing one end to yon sycamore, we paddled our canoe, with 

 the rest nicely coiled in the stern, and soon reached its 

 extremity, when I threw over the side the heavy stone 

 fastened to it as a sinker. All this was done that it 

 might be thoroughly soaked, and without kinks or snarls 

 in the morning. Now, you observe, we launch our light 

 bark, the toads in the basket are placed next to my feet 

 in the bow; I have the small lines across my knees 

 already looped at the end. Nat, with the paddle, and 

 assisted by the current, keeps the stern of our boat 

 directly down stream ; and David fixes by the skin of the 

 back and hind parts, the living bait to the hook. I hold 

 the main line all the while, and now, having fixed one 

 linelet to it, over goes the latter. Can you see the poor 

 toad kicking and flouncing in the water ? " No } " — well, 

 I do. You observe at length that all the lines, one after 

 another, have been fixed, baited, and dropped. We now 

 return swiftly to the shore. 



* Pf 



11 



1*1 



